Chapter 40

Chapter 40

It was exactly three o'clock, and the movie's opening credits began rolling on the screen.

Xu Yan hadn’t come here to watch a movie. Gathering his courage, he broke the silence first.

"The message I sent you earlier... have you thought it through?"

He had no idea what movie was playing, but the lighting suddenly dimmed further at the start. The background seemed to be a gloomy castle, and the soundtrack was oddly eerie.

Wen Sinian turned his head slightly, his angular face deeply shadowed by the dim light. His gaze was heavy, invasive, locking onto Xu Yan.

"What message?" He feigned ignorance.

Xu Yan gently fingered the edge of the tulle on his skirt. "I mean... that... I really think we’re not right for each other..."

Before he could finish, Wen Sinian interrupted.

"Did you put this dress on just for today?"

Xu Yan looked at him blankly, then glanced down at his outfit.

If it weren't for the disguise, he would never have dressed like this.

He nodded softly. "Mm..."

The bed beside him suddenly sank slightly as a burning heat moved closer.

"Do you often go out dressed like this?"

Wen Sinian tidied the strands of hair that had fallen over Xu Yan’s waist, his fingers slowly tangling a few locks, twisting and playing with them at the delicate back, catching hints of fragrance.

Xu Yan was completely unaware of his subtle movements, only feeling a slight itch on his back. "No, this is the first time."

Only after speaking did he realize Wen Sinian was too close, way past normal personal space.

The smell was intoxicating. Wen Sinian asked again, "Did you wear it for me, baby?"

Hearing that pet name so close, face-to-face, was way more intense than just texting.

Xu Yan’s face grew hot. He let out a breath. "Don’t call me that."

Wen Sinian looked confused, leaning in closer to examine him. "Haven’t I always called you that?"

Xu Yan insisted, "...Just don’t."

Wen Sinian chuckled. "Then what should I call you? I still don’t know your real name."

Xu Yan’s heart jumped—if he found out, he'd be done for.

Wen Sinian pressed, "When are you planning to tell me?"

Xu Yan thought, *Never.*

Still pondering how to respond, a bright flash suddenly lit up the screen, revealing the movie’s title—*The Haunting of the Castle.*

In that fleeting brightness, Wen Sinian caught sight of the soft pink blush on Xu Yan’s pale cheeks.

He couldn't look away, tracing over those glistening lips.

After tasting them once, he couldn’t forget.

Wen Sinian suddenly asked, "How did you turn out like this?"

Xu Yan was confused, tilting his face slightly, but his eyes widened the next moment.

A handsome face came way too close, nearly brushing his nose. Xu Yan froze, holding his breath, his gaze darting nervously.

The little puffs of warm breath he inadvertently released were eagerly breathed in by the man in front of him.

Xu Yan’s heart pounded. *This close... he wouldn’t... wouldn’t recognize me, right?*

Wen Sinian noted his unease, the corner of his lips lifting. "How are you so pretty?"

Xu Yan exhaled in relief. *Thank goodness.*

But the man’s eyes remained fixed on him, his dark eyes growing more intense in the shadows. Xu Yan was already pinned against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

He could only raise his hand again to push back, fingers shaking slightly.

"You... move back a little."

Wen Sinian didn't move, instead pressing closer into his palm.

"But I want to look at you properly, baby."

"I want to burn your image into my mind."

"Do you know how happy I was when you finally agreed to meet me?"

Xu Yan jerked his hand back like he'd been burned, about to pull away, but it was suddenly caught, wouldn't let him pull away. Wen Sinian guided his hand in slow strokes, tracing, feeling the muscles underneath grow tense.

The bed was big, yet Xu Yan was trapped in this tiny corner.

Behind him was the cold wall; before him, a hot, solid chest.

Nervous, he whispered, "Let me go..."

Wen Sinian squeezed the soft hand in his. "Just a little longer."

Xu Yan got nervous, he complained, "You said if I met you, you’d agree to break up. That’s why I came to talk about this... Are you... lying to me?"

Wen Sinian saw his worried look and his lips pouting slightly, resisting the urge to kiss them. He released Xu Yan’s hand.

Rising from the bed, he knelt before him instead, hands on either side of Xu Yan, tilting his head up slightly to look at him.

Though he seemed to be kneeling, he'd still managed to trap Xu Yan into his domain.

"Are we really going to talk about this as soon as we meet?" Wen Sinian said softly. "Let’s watch the movie first, okay? This is our first date. Whether it’s the last or not, I don’t want to make this a bad memory."

The movie was playing quietly, and Xu Yan had no idea what was happening on screen.

The man before him spoke so tenderly, totally different from before.

Xu Yan’s thoughts drifted far away. *So this is how Wen Sinian is when he’s in love—so sweet, so charming.*

Looking down, he asked, "After we finish watching, can we talk then?"

Wen Sinian agreed. "Mm."

Xu Yan thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright."

It's just a movie. Just tough it out, and it'll be over soon.

Seeing his agreement, Wen Sinian didn't immediately return to the bed. His gaze slid down from the slender waist restrained by the corset with boning, finally lingering on his thighs concealed by the skirt.

The inner layer of form-fitting silk followed the curves of his body but slightly bulged at the top of his thighs, forming two faint arcs.

As if some kind of band was worn on his legs, causing the skirt to wrinkle from the sitting posture.

Countless thoughts flashed through Wen Sinian's mind as he tried to smooth out the skirt for him.

But the moment his fingertips touched the delicate fabric, Xu Yan went rigid, straightening his legs.

What... what is he doing...

Before Wen Sinian could proceed further, Xu Yan reflexively lifted his leg and gave a sharp kick toward him.

A glimpse of pale, delicate calves flashed under the dim light, and a dull ache flared across Wen Sinian's chest.

Yet his body didn’t even sway. He merely frowned slightly and caught the leg in his grasp.

Smooth as warmed jade, fragrant to the touch.

He looked so meek, yet now he had both slapped and kicked him.

Wen Sinian seemed somewhat surprised but let him keep his foot pressed against his chest, unconcerned about the rest. Instead, he asked, "No tights?"

It was cold outside, but Xu Yan had only worn a thick coat on his upper body.

He had never gone out in a skirt before and didn’t know that other girls usually wore leggings underneath.

Under the skirt, he was bare.

Xu Yan was nearly in tears, shaking his head, wanting to pull his leg back but unable to. He hadn’t meant to kick and, afraid Wen Sinian might retaliate in anger, quickly added, "I'm sorry..."

Wen Sinian didn’t seem to care at all, focusing only on warming that small patch of skin. "Cold?"

Xu Yan nodded, then shook his head.

"It's a bit cold outside, but not here."

Wen Sinian raised his leg slightly, his breath almost brushing against the skirt. "What’s on your leg?"

Only then did Xu Yan notice the wrinkles in his skirt and, fearing misunderstanding, hurriedly explained, "It's a shirt stay. I used it to secure the inner lining of my top so it wouldn’t ride up."

Wen Sinian's eyes darkened slightly. "Hmm."

Shirt. Stay.

Xu Yan finally freed himself from his grasp and quickly straightened his skirt, covering the now-warm skin of his calf.

Wen Sinian sat beside him, at a careful distance, his expression unreadable.

The two turned their attention to the screen and began watching the movie.

The film had already been playing unseen for almost twenty minutes when Xu Yan realized it was a horror movie.

He was scared of ghosts. The only two horror films he’d seen before were with Shen Nanli, and by the end, he had all but crawled into Shen Nanli’s lap, still trembling with fear even when held tightly.

Now, he didn’t dare look properly, only sneaking glances through squinted eyes.

Glancing at the person beside him—unfazed.

When the scene grew unsettling again, Xu Yan suppressed a scream and stiffly turned to ask, "Can we switch to another movie?"

Wen Sinian checked the time. "You can’t change films after thirty minutes of playback."

Xu Yan: "...Alright."

Wen Sinian asked, "Scared?"

Xu Yan admitted, "A little."

The screen suddenly flashed a ghostly face, and Xu Yan caught a full glimpse, letting out a terrified shriek. He grabbed Wen Sinian’s arm with both hands, clutching him, his shoulders trembling.

Wen Sinian paused the film, one hand resting lightly on his lower back, the other brushing aside the hair at his neck.

Seemed like an understatement.

"Let’s stop, okay? I’ll have someone switch to another one."

Xu Yan quickly said, "No need, we’re almost halfway through."

Might as well get it over with.

Seeing his insistence, Wen Sinian resumed playback.

Xu Yan was still terrified. Even with his eyes closed, the dialogue and ghostly sounds from the film painted terrifying pictures in his mind—sometimes even worse than reality.

His heart hammered, and his grip on Wen Sinian’s sleeve tightened, mentally begging for the movie to end soon.

Wen Sinian let him wrinkle his sleeve without protest, indulging him.

Unconsciously, the distance between them gradually shrank. Xu Yan was frozen in fear, yet Wen Sinian hadn’t batted an eye throughout.

At the film’s most terrifying climax, Xu Yan buried his face in Wen Sinian’s chest, eyes squeezed shut, he screamed as if chased by ghosts.

Wen Sinian’s chest ached. In the dim glow, he saw a pale, tear-stained face, long lashes fluttering—fragile and heartbreaking.

His chest tightened painfully.

He pulled Xu Yan into his arms, cradling him close, softly reassuring him into his ear.

"It’s okay, baby. Don’t be scared. It’s over now."

Xu Yan felt himself being lifted, and before he knew it, he was held close in Wen Sinian’s embrace. Though still frightened, he felt it was too much and instinctively tried to climb off Wen Sinian’s lap.

But his limbs were weak, and halfway through, he accidentally glanced back—only to see blood splatter.

"Ahh—!"

He flung himself back against Wen Sinian, arms locked around his neck, burying his face against his neck, refusing to look again.

Tearful and trembling, he muttered tearfully, "It’s not over at all. You lied to me, you lied..."

Wen Sinian cupped the nape of his neck, his arm tightening around his middle, pulling him even closer.

Seamlessly, just as he’d imagined a hundred times before, fitting the pliant form against him.

He tilted his head back contentedly, licked his lips, and just shut off the dim screen.

The room instantly went dark.

Author's note:

Deleted two paragraphs.